Picking up new trailer

[corvettefarmer]

Good afternoon. I'll be traveling from Bushnell Florida to Lexington North Carolina early February to pick up a new flatbed trailer and know it is always a good idea to stop at Florida's AG inspection station and was told empty flatbeds are not required to stop at Florida's weigh stations. I was wondering if anyone could help me with the rules for traveling thru NC, SC and GA with an empty GN flatbed?

Thanks
Jim

 

[Topkicker]

I lived in Georgia for 30 years and bought my first tractor in North Carolina. I used a 3/4 ton truck and 18ft equipment trailer to haul it home. Had no run ins with the DOT or State/local police. Atlanta can be a PITA during rush hours (7-9am and 4-6pm). Make sure you are in the correct lane well before your exits when traveling on the ATL bypass (285). I know some states like Illinois have a lower speed limit for trailers. Watch your speed limit signs and for the left lane restrictions in major cities. Make sure your trailer lights are working properly also (don't give the popo any reason for easy revenue). You'll be fine. Have a safe trip.:thumbsup:

 

[Soundguy]

i've driven from florida to texas, lousiana, georgia, alabama, mississippi, tenn and ky.

with my ford 450 and a gn flatbed, empty one direction.. and with a rusty farm tractor in the other direction.

I've never stopped at a single ag or weight station, and never been challanged by the lines of DOT cars setting in the median when I have drove by.

my vehicle is my own personally.. non company, non comercial.. not for hire.. etc.

have had dot jump out and pull over commercial - looking trucks traveling in a lane near me when we both drove by a scale.

have went thru a few of those auto-weigh lanes that give you a green light and tell you to not stop.. etc.

just what I've seen.. other states may vary.. etc.

if you are comercial or hauling for hire .. all bets are off..

 

[grsthegreat]

Those weigh stations sure get confusing to me also. I travel alot between Wash, Oregon, Idaho and Montana hauling either a flatbed or a 30 foot gooseneck horse trailer..and i never know if I'm supposed to stop or not.

I haul with a F350 and never do. But my Vet was just warned that he was supposed to stop with his 6 horse trailer and his F450.... so I'm real confused.

Does it have to do with overall weight, or commercial vs non commercial or livestock???

figure ill find out when the pull me over.

 

[grsthegreat]

Hay that last post was my 3,600th.... oh darn, now this one makes it 3,601. now i have to continue till i reach 3,700

i like even numbers :laughing:

and i apparently have way too much time on my hands

 

[flyingcow]

keep the air out of your seat, hat pulled low....and ride on. As pointed out, personal stuff left lane ridin' all the way.

 

[corvettefarmer]

I appreciate the info. My plan now is to pass both the the weigh stations and AG inspection. I'll post if anything exciting happens. thanks

 

[Soundguy]

Those weigh stations sure get confusing to me also. I travel alot between Wash, Oregon, Idaho and Montana hauling either a flatbed or a 30 foot gooseneck horse trailer..and i never know if I'm supposed to stop or not.

I haul with a F350 and never do. But my Vet was just warned that he was supposed to stop with his 6 horse trailer and his F450.... so I'm real confused.

Does it have to do with overall weight, or commercial vs non commercial or livestock???

figure ill find out when the pull me over.

animals likely have to stop at an ag station, and you need a coggins test paper for a horse.. etc.


for the scales. IMHO.. it's a commercial / non comercial, AND weight issue.

soundguy

 

[Soundguy]

I appreciate the info. My plan now is to pass both the the weigh stations and AG inspection. I'll post if anything exciting happens. thanks

may the force be with ya!

 

[corvettefarmer]

I'm non-commercial and will be empty coming back to Florida so I should be good. The AG checks still bother me a little as their signs are pretty intimidating. Don't recall the exact wording but they say all trucks, trailers and rental trucks must stop. My previous pickup had a cap on it and when I stopped at an AG inspection, they asked what I was carrying and then checked the back seat and bed. I still plan on passing them unless instructed otherwise by my co-pilot.